Before July 2022, same-sex couples could not marry under Swiss law, however they could conclude a registered partnership allowing them to benefit from almost the same legal protection as a marriage. Since 1st July 2022, the Swiss population voted in favour for the initiative allowing mariage between same-sex partners. The registered partnership is no longer […]
Switzerland regularly ranks as one of the best countries in the world to retire. Offering excellent healthcare facilities, great outdoor opportunities, low taxes and a high standard of lifestyle, Switzerland is a small country with many attractive aspects for foreigners who can afford it. Most cities are nestled around beautiful lakes and surrounded by mountains, […]
The enforcement of Brexit impacts heavily UK citizens planning to move and work in Switzerland from January 2021. UK citizens’ immigration rights are no longer regulated by the agreement on the Freedom of Movement of People (AFMP), applying to all EU-27/AELE citizens under Swiss law, but by the federal law on Foreigners and Integration (LEI), […]
Switzerland is a popular destination for seasonal workers, especially during the winter. As this category of foreigners remains in the country for three to four months at a time, they are subject to short term work authorisations. Authorisations to be delivered to European citizens are regulated by the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons […]
The pandemic has revealed the pros and cons of each nation’s health system and ability to handle a major crisis. The recent events have stirred many life decisions in terms of settling in a new environment and starting a new life somewhere else. Switzerland offers a high quality of lifestyle combined with excellent healthcare infrastructures, […]
The pandemic has created new opportunities for foreigners who can work remotely and for independents who can manage their business from anywhere. It is not uncommon anymore to settle in a place offering a high-quality lifestyle, such as Verbier and other ski resorts in Valais like Crans-Montana, Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Arolla and others to be able […]
A question that often comes up when considering moving to Switzerland is “what are the pros and cons of holding a residency permit in Switzerland?” There are various advantages to holding a Swiss permit, other than allowing the holder to live in Switzerland. Depending on the type of B or L permit, that person is […]
What is an S permit? In light of recent developments in Ukraine, Switzerland has been accepting Ukrainian refugees and granting them S permits. The process allows asylum seekers to be protected in a much faster way than going through the usual immigration procedure. An S permit allows its holder to legally stay in Switzerland provisionally […]
A recent court judgment pronounced in Zurich has highlighted the fact that maintaining a B permit after a divorce can be sometimes challenging when the permit was obtained through family reunification. Thus, the law grants the right to a Swiss citizen or C permit holder to live in Switzerland with his foreign spouse and children […]
Jean-Yves provides an overview of the criteria applied by the judge for the allocation of the matrimonial home when a separation takes place. In principle, marriage leads to spouses living under the same roof, which is commonly referred to as the matrimonial home. Hence, in case of separation, the legal question that must be answered […]
Applying for a work permit to hire skilled non-European staff is an important step for any international company based in Switzerland. The type of permit delivered is dependent on the length of the contract. A contract going over 365 days will result in a B permit while a contract under one year will result in […]
Splitting assets and pension funds when divorcing requires a thorough understanding of the Swiss pension system. With a rate of divorce of almost 50% in the canton of Geneva, divorce proceedings commonly involve expatriates living and working in Switzerland. Under Swiss law, pension schemes must be shared equally between spouses and assets disentangled to ensure […]